How to make my husband on my side novel

“Your father is surprisingly strict. That’s so harsh that even I’m surprised.” Izek, who finally opened his mouth, murmured slowly.

My body shrank at his cold sarcastic voice.

“He doesn’t usually do that, but I’ve had a bad accident. Shame on me…”

“Why are you crying?”

“Why are you crying?”

Are you being sarcastic? I’m not crying. It’s just that I’m so scared of you that I’m tearing up, you cold-blooded monster!

“Woo, I didn’t mean to cry…… I’m sorry, I’m afraid, afraid you’re disappointed in me…….”

He grabbed me by the arm and pulled me just as I was about to wipe my eyes with my fist. My eyes widened as my legs relaxed.

Izek held my hands together and placed his head on top of it. He did it for a long time, without saying a word.

As I stared blankly at his silver hair, which was wet and disheveled, 50,000 thoughts crossed my mind.

And this was what he said when he finally raised his head, “People would think I made it like this.”

“I’ll have nothing to say when the lizard comes after me.”

What are you talking about, Dragon Slayer?

My cheek, which was wet, was cupped by a rough palm.

“I don’t know what to do when a girl cries. And…”

“Every time you do this, I…….”

His teeth clenched, his eyes shook with a strange emotion.

A completely perplexed look, one where he was suppressing anger, pain, and bitterness.

I was confused, but I felt sorry for him.

“I wish your husband was a wiser man than me, but now I can’t help it.”

I didn’t know what to say.

The touch on my wet cheek was soft.

His hand was rough, with calluses, but it didn’t feel bad.

“I have to stop roaming between consideration and avoidance.….”

“You have only one chance to come open now. So tell me what you want. You can do anything.”

My head was ringing. I think he said this last time too. I could do anything after I chose…

I didn’t know what that meant, but at this very moment, I could see that the opportunity I’d been looking for, had finally come back.

I was clueless about this sudden change of heart, but I couldn’t miss it.

“Answer me carefully. It won’t do any good if you regret it later.”

Unconsciously, I may already have realized it.

He gave me a few chances, and this was the last time.

Once I opened this door, I’d never be able to go back, something I had never imagined would be waiting.

I didn’t have another option in the first place anyway. If I had a chance to choose, it was already clear which way to go.

I curled my arms around my husband’s neck. I tried to answer carefully, but as my mouth opened, my tongue twisted as if I had been possessed.

“I want to live next to you with my friends.”

His snake-like eyes glowed like a red warning light. Once, twice. Something soft and fierce.… I didn’t have time to reflect on what I was saying.

The towel, which was wrapped around me, fell to the floor as my body jerked up.

I was a chick again!

I was struggling without knowing what to do, but my back was buried in a soft sheet.

The large bed was covered with thick wool and fine cotton blankets.

Izek put me down on top of it and took off his soaked gown from the bath earlier.

His voluptuous statue-like body was revealed as the moist cloth flowed down.

Strangely, it wasn’t as terrifying as last time.

“That’s what I want…”

It was hot. His soft lips on my feet were hot. The same foot that I had hurt earlier.

Yes, he was holding my foot and kissing it.

I watched the scene with my eyes about to pop out.

I couldn’t believe that arrogant guy kissed me on the back of my foot. I couldn’t even have imagined it. Why did I feel so weird?

It was not long before his body, muscles rippling, wriggled up.

I felt like I was being attacked by a wild animal.

His broad shoulders, chest, and waistline below it were as smooth and sensual as a leopard.

Suddenly, a strange question arose.

Who else was as brutal and beautiful as Izek?

I didn’t have time to react to hearing my nickname in his voice.

Lips that felt like they were on fire, pressed against my lips.

No, wasn’t this going too fast all of a sudden? Has been holding back for too long?

His soft tongue opened my lips, swept through my teeth, and squeezed in.

Short of breath, I could feel a throb.

A heart was pounding.

Pulsing, thumping. I didn’t know whose heart it was.

I couldn’t move because of the dizziness.

A warm breath hovered on my neck, and I looked up. Just in time to see him sweep the hair on his forehead back.

His red eyes glistened above me, breathing hard.

Deep ruby eyes with a silver light. Their depth was so much that it felt like I was about to get sucked into them.

“Damn it, you keep looking at me like that.….”

Are you accusing me or being sarcastic?

His lips fell around my eyes as I blinked.

Kisses poured on my eyelids, on my nose, on my lips and neck again.

It was no match for me to kiss him on the cheek, it would seem like a joke.

This almost felt passionate. The song from before rang in my ear.

My only condition is, tell me you’ll remember me…

The hand that was stroking my shoulder went down past the collarbone.

My body trembled at the feeling of his fingers grazing my ribs. I tried to stay calm, but my limbs kept flinching.

His long fingers brushed my solar plexus and stomach, reaching my lower abdomen. My leg reflexively shuddered, causing my eyes to water.

“Relax and breathe.”

“There’s nothing to be ashamed of. I’m as nervous as you are.”

Really? Why do I think you’re better than me? Is this the main character buff? What an unfair world.

I relaxed my tensed limbs. Cool air poured in through the gap.

My body kept burning. Finally, a translucent thread hung around the tip of his finger, as my upper body jerked up.

“Hand. Like before.”

He gave me a low command and nuzzled me on the shoulder.

I raised my arm and hugged him by the neck as before.

Instead of answering, Izek lowered his head and bit my shoulder slightly. And then slowly came in. It was all in an instant.

A steel-like arm held me tight.

It was useless even if I struggled and slapped his shoulder.

I wondered if my body would break into pieces.

It hurts, it hurts, hubby!

“Relax, or it’ll hurt more.”

I know that, but how did you know that? I don’t know why it’s so hard to relax.

I thought my lower half had loosened a little, but a wrist suddenly popped up in front of me.

I accidentally bit it. Wasn’t that why he gave it to me?

It’s not fair if I’m the only one in pain. Good, I hope it bruises, you cold-blooded b*stard!

I was a little too ambitious. A groan, almost a moan, sounded near my ear.

“Did you actually bite me? You’ll be a mess by tomorrow.”

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry.….”

“This is crazy, really.”

A giggle rang out.

I was high even in the daze. The tension eased little by little while he kissed my head with me supported by his arms.

Slowly repeated thrusts made me shudder with pain and joy.

Why was that look so confusing for me?

It was as if I was the one who’s trapped, who’s caught in a trap, even while knowing it’s bait.….

I just realized I couldn’t go back to what I used to be.

God, how did I know what I would turn into here?

How did I know whether this night could be a blessing or a curse for me?

The excitement shook my mind and his lips gently pressed on my cheek, which was flushed red.

The kiss on my face was sweet. It was so sweet that I almost cried.

My hand went up and grabbed a handful of his hair.

So tell me you’ll remember me.

Wearing shining armour and looking at the sunset.

Why was it a mistake to think of that song today? I didn’t know why my heart ached so much when I didn’t have enough courage to say anything.

We were stuck together all night.

I was sure this memory would follow him around even after he leaves me one day.

Even if it was just a dream he’d forget when he woke up.

Chapter 119

“It’s bad timing. Let’s just refuse her request and tell her to go home······.” (Elenia)

I hastily interrupted Elenia’s words as she slowly opened her mouth.

Her red eyes widened.

“Ruby, you don’t have to force yourself to meet her. I will separately·····.” (Elenia)

“I’m not forcing myself. There’s something else I want to talk to her about.” (Ruby)

“I don’t think it’s a good idea. Besides, you have to leave soon.” (Elenia)

“We don’t know when I’ll have to leave yet, isn’t there a bit of time to spare for some tea? (Ruby)

“But Ruby·····.” (Elenia)

“It’s okay, Ellen. Really. After all, she’s Ellen’s old friend.” (Ruby)

Whether it’s for me or something else, Elenia had already sent out her nanny, who looked after her from an early age, and she shouldn’t have to be involved in these matters anymore.

Moreover, I was wondering why Freya wanted to see me.

“…Are you sure you’re okay?” (Elenia)

“Of course, did you forget what kind of person I am?” (Ruby)

On a snowy, winter afternoon, I unexpectedly sat down for tea at a table situated in the garden of the greenhouse, surrounded by a sumptuous spring landscape.

I was also facing Freya.

My last memory of Freya was of her appearance in the mirror room of Angvan Palace.

She was frozen and solely staring at me while everyone else was distracted by the roar of the dragon.

Indeed, Freya, who I haven’t seen in a long time, was as neat and elegant as ever.

She seemed to be at ease, yet a little less relaxed, but overall, nothing seemed to have changed much.

However, after asking to see me, she seemed unwilling to open her mouth.

Freya wasn’t the only one, we also showed no signs of initiating a dialogue.

The air in the greenhouse was warm, but it felt like a cold wind was blowing through.

It wasn’t because of me though, it was probably because of Elenia, who was sitting upright and staring at her childhood friend with a cold expression on her face.

I don’t know what happened between the two.

However, considering Elenia’s attitude, I can only guess that a decisive moment must have taken place.

Freya was evidently neither talking to nor looking at Elenia.

She just sat with rigid shoulders and her head bowed, looking at the teacup.

The situation was like this, but it shouldn’t be like this.

“Ellen, would it be okay if you left us alone for a while?”

In fact, Elenia was scheduled to leave soon anyway, but I asked cautiously because she was anxious.

Freya’s hand, holding the glass, twitched slightly.

“······· Call me if anything happens.”

Elenia, who had directed her words toward me, turned her gaze to Freya and stood up coyly.

Consequently, it was finally just the two of us in question that remained.

The clear, winter sun shone through the glass ceiling and illuminated the table.

Instead of conversing with the silent visitor, I sipped tea and savored the vibrant refreshments from the serving tray.

There were fresh lemon tarts, crisp cookies, colorful cupcakes, and, of course, chocolate pudding.

The huge white cake that I ate this morning was present as well.

I could feel Freya, who was still giving off a scornful air, eventually lifting her eyes slowly and looking at me.

Regardless of whether she was or was not looking at me, I still went about like normal and dipped the almond cookie into the creamy pudding, pushed it into my mouth, and sipped the plain, black tea.

“What is it, Lady?”

“… First of all, I’m glad you’re well.”

“Thank you. The tea has a pleasant smell, so do and go try it.”

Silence resumed once more.

For whatever reason, Freya came to see me yet she was in no hurry to bring up the topic of discussion and instead, just stared at me as I ate.

Are you going to pick a fight again?

She looked a bit tired though.….

“I’m not going to apologize to Madam.”

······just as expected. At her convenience, she continued to spit out utter garbage.

It’s pretty much the same as before.

“So please don’t expect an apology.”

“Anyway, I just did what I thought was best according to my own beliefs. I still feel the same way now.”

“Even if mistakes were made, my actions are based on a set of values accumulated through various experiences from the time I was born. And after having lived with these values in mind ······. I just can’t understand Madam at all.”

I stood up with a cookie still in my mouth.

As the scene unfolded, I strode across a diverse array of colorful flowers and bushes and headed towards the door.

Then, after beckoning the escorts standing outside the entrance to retreat, they closed and locked the door.

When I came back to the table, Freyja was frozen with a bewildered expression, assuming that I must have just left.

I sat back in my seat and folded my arms while chewing whatever was left of the cookie.

The sound of the vigorous stream of water circulating in the fountain could be heard.

Freya stared at me as her face paled and continued to talk.

“If people don’t try to help themselves, no one else will.”

That’s a wonderful thing to say. Which book is this from?

“I don’t know why a woman like Madam has been neglecting herself like that for so long, but it seems like an addiction. Because they said that misery and self-pity are addictive.”

So that’s what this was about······.

“Of course, I feel sympathy and pity, but nonetheless, I can’t help that my need to lament comes first. Why······ why the hell did you live your life that way?”

“You can overcome any difficulty with strong will and good words alone. If you can put your mind to it and take action, heaven will surely be on your side. You could have asked for anyone’s help at any time in your current position, but why didn’t you do anything until things got so bad? Why did you not think about taking a more active approach on life and let not only yourself, but also everyone else to be so miserable······?“

Misery, self-compassion, alienation, solitude, rejection, death, pain, violence, fear, coercion and shame …….

A sheltered woman who had never personally experienced any of this was now arguing with me.

The issue wasn’t about whether she knew or didn’t know anything about my life.

She was just more or less curious about the moment she witnessed at that time and wanted to argue with how I lived.

Why did you ignore the values of nobility by living so pathetically and passively, making others needlessly worry? (T/N: This is still internal monologue, from the POV of what Ruby is thinking Freya is asking of her)

Strangely enough, I felt amused rather than angry.

It may just be a natural course of action for a person to react like her, when they were born and raised in an entirely different environment and never experienced what the other person went through.

A verbal attack by someone who has never been or will never be abandoned.

Nevertheless, there were also people who said it was not my fault when they looked at me, despite never having experienced my struggles, instead of blaming me or saying empty words of compassion.

“Are you listening? Fu….”

Something was burning inside me.

It had already happened here once the other day.

The elegantly combed platinum hair, the smooth white face, the front of the luxurious dress, and the fine accessories were soaked in tea water.

Only, it was a different person this time around who had poured the teacup.

I could guarantee that Freya’s current expression was the same exact one I had last time when I was in her position.

The look of someone cracking and completely losing their composure.

It was astounding to see her face tinted in blue because of the color of the tea.

“What are you doing right now…”

“Why? Wasn’t it your hobby to douse yourself with tea? I’m proud of my ability to be straightforward because I don’t think it’s a healthy and dignified way to live by childishly blaming others when things do not go my way, just like you have done so far.”

“You, do you think you’ll still be safe after you do this? I····.”

I picked up a handful of assorted sweets and shoved them into her mouth, which had been extremely energetic in blathering on continuously.

Suffer a diabetic shock, you rude ass b*tch.

“Wow! Whoa, whoa! What kind of vulgar behavior is this?”

”It’s because I feel sorry for your shallow existence. Why? Like you said, let’s say I have lived a pathetic life, but what does that make you, someone who finds it difficult to win against me in any case? You couldn’t face me properly and ended up resorting to petty, underhanded schemes. What the hell does that make you?”

”Will the heavens help you if you act like that? Do you think it’s okay to do childish things just because the heavens tell you to? Say you envy me if you envy me that much. You must have had a hard time pretending to be noble while burning to death with resentment. Do you know that you’re so unsightly and pathetic? I feel bad for you for going crazy over a pathetic person such as myself!”

The purple eyes had been shaking as if an earthquake had occurred and then burst into flames.

I didn’t know I would see such a brutal and poisonous expression on Freya’s face, so I have to live and enjoy it for a long time.

”If you hadn’t appeared, my position wouldn’t have been taken away from me! How the hell is someone like you ruining my world? A dirty Borgian woman who’s not even the Pope’s biological child, but a tattered prostitute’s daughter who’s been sold off here and there.”

My hands gripped her head and plunged it into the pure white cake.

Her beautiful face was instantly covered with cream, then she stretched out her floundering arms and grabbed my hair.

Tears welled up from the pain of having my hair pulled by the roots.

See what this woman is doing?

“The North would have remained the same if it wasn’t for you! Why did everything change so much after you appeared…!”

“Go be a martyr for your burning loyalty to the North, you wicked woman!”

“It’s all because of you…! Why do I have to feel so inferior because of someone like you…!”

“Your feelings are not my problem.”

“Why should I be deprived of the things I deserve because of a woman of unclear bloodline, a woman who is not worth comparing to, merely a foolish doll who only knows how to smile and dance?”

”That’s just life, you b*tch! Be mindful of the person you’re picking a fight with!”

Chapter 118 – The Omerta family’s paranoid conspiracy theories about the ice dragon

Chapter 118 – The Omerta family’s paranoid conspiracy theories about the ice dragon

The relaxing atmosphere made breakfast time pass quickly and it was soon followed by dessert.

Rich, sweet cocoa with floating marshmallows along with a snow-white cream cake were desserts perfect for a snowy morning.

But it seemed that I was the only one who thought so.

Even Elenia seemed to be distracted by something.

“Are these desserts father’s taste?”

“What are you suddenly unhappy about? The daughter-in-law likes it.”

“Since when did you start liking them…”

“Didn’t I like them back then as well?”

“What are you talking about when you say ‘back then’?”

“I had the same taste back then but there are some desserts that I only recently started liking.”

The Duke, who responded slowly, sipped a glass of wine and gracefully gestured towards the attendants.

The pale faced attendants that had been actively moving about left their positions.

I was a little worried that Izek, who was staring at my cup of hot cocoa as if it was poisoned, might overturn the table as it is, but fortunately that didn’t happen.

However, the veins bulging from his forehead were unsettling.

“Are you enjoying this…?” (Izek)

“Am I the only one? Besides that, tell me why your superior has been making such a commotion since this morning.” (Duke)

“Do I need to report it to my father?” (Izek)

“Who told you not to do it?” (Duke)

My eyes widened at the sight of the pair of siblings’ cold eyes and quietly took a bite of my cake.

“What happened?” (Duke)

“Rather than something happening…damn it. I was going to bring it up myself so why are you pestering me about this now?” (Izek)

“I don’t want to be involved but you have to tell me in detail so that I can relay the information to his majesty”. (Duke)

“You can find out from Sir Barons (knight commander). Actually, you probably already know about it.” (Izek)

“Your superior has a tendency to exaggerate since long ago so his words are unreliable. Fu… Lately, I’ve been hearing peculiar noises coming from the direction of Rom’s cave since last night, Ruby.” (Duke)

If it’s Rom’s cave, isn’t that where our dragon cub’s hiding place is?

(T/N: ‘Rom’ is supposed to be a place but I am not sure what it is since I don’t remember a location sounding similar to it when the novel talks about Erendil or the North and I’m sure it’s not referring to Romagna)

Izek rubbed his temples in annoyance then glanced at me with an imperturbable expression.

“I’ve been monitoring the area since the attack on the palace and I heard someone whining all of a sudden last night. Should I say that it sounds more like wailing? The commander is arguing that it clearly sounds more like wailing.” (Izek)

“Could the dragon be in ill health?” (Ruby)

“It could be the case but the timing of when they started wailing doesn’t coincide with when they sustained injuries from the incident····Anyway, the first thing to do is to figure out the next steps. I will first do a sweep of the area today and then escort you to the location. They’ve been acting out and you’re the only one who has entered their dwelling. (Izek)

“Isn’t there a possibility that they’re purposely pretending to be unwell? Maybe they’re trying to make Ruby come to them.” (Elenia)

(T/N: I don’t think the novel has ever clearly specified the gender of the dragon since Korean just frivolously switches between he/she whenever it’s MTL’d, so I’m using gender neutral pronouns from now on to refer to them)

I gaped at Elenia for a moment.

Elenia rolled her eyes in exasperation.

“Ruby, they’re much smarter than they seem. Don’t let this go so easily” (Elenia)

“I also share the same sentiment. No matter how I look at it, it’s clear that he’s feigning, but Sir Barons is concerned…What are your thoughts about this father?” (Izek)

“Your rationale makes sense. If you consider the circumstances, that bast*rd could just be putting on an act·····.” (Duke)

Should I feel comforted by the scene of a family simply nodding their heads together?

Since when did they get along so well?

What if that ill tempered rascal is genuinely sick?!

Well, it’s not unreasonable to be one of the few people concerned, after all, dragons are quite rare right?

To make matters worse, my beautiful sister-in-law took it further.

“If the knights are struggling to watch over them and the dragon cub is indeed sick, why don’t the knights just release them outside?” (Elenia)

“I want to do that too, but it’s also difficult because they’re rare. There are concerns that they will rampage again under the pretext of being sick.” (Izek)

“That’s a good point. But what the hell was the commander complaining about?” (Duke)

“I don’t know what they’re doing there, but two young, golden beasts from somewhere are guarding the entrance closely so it’s impossible to get near the dragon. In other words, they are preventing other beasts from looting the dragon’s vast pile of riches while they’re still out of commission. It’s suspicious and that’s why I’m questioning whether that dragon is actually sick or not.” (Izek)

(T/N: the location of where the “two young, golden beasts” came from is specified as ‘somewhere’ in the TL as the raws are unclear about the location)

“They were guarding the entrance? It didn’t seem like that.” (Duke)

“I’m not entirely sure, maybe the three of them are conspiring with one another. I was going to give them a chance to make contact on their own even if I wasn’t monitoring the situation, but this is my plan now.….” (Izek)

They were strangely interested in the bizarre conversation, but when I openly sighed, it ended in an instant.

Then, not only was my smug, arrogant husband smiling at me, but my poker-faced sister-in-law and stern father-in-law were also doing that as well.

At least, it seemed like they were.

“…Oh, of course I’m kidding. Wasn’t I?” (Izek)

“Of course it was just a joke. Wasn’t it, father? (Elenia)

“Yea, I was just saying that because I was a bit troubled about the damage caused by the dragon.” (Duke)

They didn’t seem like they were being honest, but I pretended to not have noticed anything.

Instead, I smiled at Izek, who appeared to have been somewhat clenching his cup.

“Then are we going there today? Are you going to Rom’s cave with me?” (Ruby)

“Huh? Yeah, of course I am. It might be dangerous so I don’t want you to meet them by yourself.” (Izek)

(T/N: A reminder to myself that I’m still using they/them pronouns to refer to the dragon or any beast/monsters)

“That’s nice, it’s like a married couple’s joint operation. I was internally worried that you would be going alone. Isn’t it likely that they’re on high alert at the moment?” (Duke)

Izek’s eyes flickered for a moment and then he looked at me, but he didn’t say anything.

I thought, ‘Who cares about that?’ Isn’t it similar to a child moaning from having a high fever?

But what’s with this atmosphere?

I was at a loss for words.

My father-in-law clicked his tongue and shook his head while Izek, whose blood sugar had risen sharply, pounded his head on the table.

“You haven’t said anything yet?” (Duke)

“…… [Cough]! Oh, damn it….” (Izek)

“So noisy, noisy, [cough]! Great… It’s just great…!” (Izek)

“Iz, are you okay?” (Ruby)

Instead of answering my question, Izek’s sullen figure suddenly jerked out of his seat.

Then, covering his face with his large hands, he averted his eyes and groaned as he spat out.

“Anyway, I’m going to go and clean up first.….” (Izek)

“I should go to the palace now. I hope that thoughtless, stupid bast*rd is faking their illness. If that’s the case, approach with caution for the moment…” (Duke)

“Didn’t you say you’d go now?” (Izek)

“Why aren’t you leaving? Did you want to eat more food?” (Duke)

Elenia and I stared at each other for a while and at the same time opened our mouths at the attractive, wide backs of the bickering father and son.

“Have a safe trip. See you later”.

“Have a safe trip.”

The father and son duo looked back at us for the last time with similar expressions, but right afterwards, in the process of leaving, they caused a disturbance and coughed up a storm, leaving us wondering what else was wrong with their heads.

“…Ruby, would you like to eat mine too?”

“What about you Ellen?”

“I’ll ask him to bring me some other desserts.”

Just like that, the first breakfast the family had gathered for ended peacefully.

“You need to get new winter clothes.” (Elenia)

“Let’s do it gradually. By the way, does winter come this early for Erendil?” (Ruby)

“This year it came particularly fast. Come to think of it, how is winter in Romagna?” (Elenia)

“It hardly snows, I guess. I lived in the northern part, so I thought it snowed too early compared to the rest of Romagna.” (Ruby)

“It seems that we have to get used to donning cold weather attire soon. I don’t know if the ice dragon has anything to do with the weather, but…” (Elenia)

I really don’t know either.

Among the dragons that inhabit the North, weren’t the ice dragons the most prominent and rarest of its kind?

Ronya, dressed in her cold weather attire, had been holding on to me tightly before taking her leave at our request.

I smiled at Elenia without looking in the mirror.

“Ellen, am I not strange?”

“What are you talking about…?”

“I’m probably the first one who can interact with beasts without trouble. Admittedly, I am a little scared of being misunderstood even though I can’t help it. It wouldn’t be weird if I was mistaken as a witch.”

Elenia bowed her head for a moment and looked at her hands that had been resting on her lap. She got up from the armchair she had been sitting in and came closer.

“Well, first of all, I’m an Omerta and I can’t help but accept it as is. If my father or brother can calmly accept it, then I’m no different. Reality is too tiring for people to have time to believe in the superstition of witches.”

“Of course, I was really surprised at the time, but oddly enough, I didn’t find the situation to be all that ridiculous.”

“I don’t know either. Maybe it’s because anything beyond common sense is possible in this domain.”

“Furthermore, it seems that I felt that the impossible was somehow possible with Ruby. I’ve felt like that all along.”

“Have the things I’ve done been so absurd?“

“Didn’t you know? If you looked at it this morning, you’d realize it too.”

My charming sister-in-law tied the laces of my hooded cloak into the shape of a ribbon.

I silently smiled during this brief moment in time.

Unexpectedly, the sound of someone knocking on the door could be heard.

“Madam, Lady, are you there?” (Madam – Ruby, Lady – Elenia)

(T/N: Lady is used when referring to women who hold certain titles – marchioness, countess, viscountess, or baroness; it can also be used for the wife of a lower ranking noble. Lady is also the courtesy title for daughters of higher ranking nobles – duke, marquis, or earl.)

Isn’t this voice the butler? I wondered if something was urgent…

“My apologies, Miss. Actually, Lady Furiana has made a visit.”

Somehow, he sounded hesitant.

No, I think he’s flustered. I don’t know why he is.

After a moment of silence, Elenia looked at me once and coolly announced.

“Tell her we’re busy and send her back. I’m sure I previously informed you of this.”

“I apologize. With all due respect, I have to report this since you didn’t meet with her last time..”

“Lady Furiana asked to see Madam (Ruby).”

What does she want?

Elenia and I stared at each other with vacant expressions.

To be honest, I haven’t thought of Freya at all as of recently.

I didn’t avoid it on purpose, my mind was just distracted with other things. If I thought about her, it would’ve just made me feel upset.

The problems with Freya and the Temple were topics I wanted to avoid making judgments on my own.

But why did Freya suddenly visit me at this specific time of day?

Chapter 121

“I want to give my apologies. We can’t handle this situation amongst ourselves anymore…We can’t….”

“Don’t be so shy! Hurry and rise! Welcome Madam, I’m so relieved you came. Hurry and come this way.”

“Hey, thank god! The Princess has arrived!”

“Hey you bear, can’t you hear me! You can quit now!”

“The Princess is here!”

What is this incredibly welcoming atmosphere?

Seeing this, I didn’t know what to do.

I was dragged around blindly by Sir Ivan while in a state of confusion, and before long, the paladins stationed themselves near the entrance to the cave, and a familiar figure hovering above their heads appeared as if it was an illusion.

Griffin let out a long cry before I could even open my mouth.

Immediately following their cry, something sprung itself out from within the dark cave.

“Madam, be careful …!”

Rolling, rolling. (데굴데굴, 구르르.) (sfx)

Popo, who was passionately bouncing and flapping their arms, rolled on the floor for a bit as they vigorously hugged me with their plump arms.

(T/N: again, I’ll be using gender neutral pronouns “they/them” to refer to Popo, Griffin, or the baby dragon)

Oh my goodness, it was a chaotic scene, but I was happy to see them again!

“Pureung, cu, cu, cu, ku!”

Right above Popo’s head, Griffin was happily snapping his beak away.

I was touched to receive such a welcoming reaction from them.

“······· Those bast*rds don’t seem to be at all like beasts.”

(T/N: I guess this is a way of saying they may have some “humanlike” qualities at the most, or at the least, they behave differently compared to other beasts since they seem to be capable of showing action or reactions of a wider range compared to the average monster)

“Stay still, you idiot.”

I won’t go into detail on how the innocent, upright Paladins watched the little ones, who were rolling around together and basking in the joy of reunion.

Eventually, I was freed from Popo and Griffin’s intense hugs and sat gasping in the aftermath.

[Khao oh oh oh-] (sfx)

A groan emitting from the general area reverberated through the huge maze of a cave.

Griffin nodded their head and Popo, having just remembered what the objective was, simultaneously used the current situation’s momentum to stand up and grab my hand.

They then flapped their other arm in the direction towards the inside of the cave.

I blinked and turned my head in response.

Leaving behind the quivering eyes of their comrades, a small group of elite paladins daringly came to me with beaming looks.

”Is Iz in the cave right now?”

“Yes, the commander (Sir Barons) is also accompanying him. I tried to stop them from going in but they were both too stubborn. The current dilemma is that they might be lost inside at the moment, because they haven’t come out of the cave for nearly half a day, so I tried to go after them but they (Popo and Griffin) were blocking people from entry, and instead I’ve been keeping watch over the cave’s opening·······”

This bast*rd husband, it hasn’t even been close to half a day and yet he’s attempting to solve the situation (of figuring out why the dragon is wailing) by himself after we’ve made the agreement of figuring it out together as a married couple!

No matter how strong he may be, I’ll still be worried for his safety!

It’s become even more of a mess since he left with the commander!

“I’m sure nothing will happen, since the most that has happened so far has been the dragon whining. Izek is either lost or taking the time to search for something else. We just thought Madam should be informed of this, don’t you think so?”

“The commander also mentioned something about two dragons….Madam, we will follow you if you decide to enter the cave too.”

It was then that Sir Ivan, who had been conversing with Sir Galar, and Sir Camus, who was approaching with the support of Andymion, staggered in.

“Madam, that bast*rd. I don’t think that Griffin punk is a Griffin.”

The hard-headed Sir Camus seemed to be in a rather bad condition today.

In order to discourage Sir Camus from insisting on taking action on Griffin, Sir Galar had to step forward and stop him from cutting his own nose.

(T/N: I thought “cut / slit his nose” is a Korean metaphor or idiom but apparently it is a reference dating back from the Middle Ages. According to wiki, “cutting off one’s nose (to spite one’s face)” is an expression used to describe a needlessly self destructive over reaction to a problem. “Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face” is a warning against acting out of pique, or against pursuing revenge in a way that would damage oneself more than the object of one’s anger. It wasn’t uncommon to cut off someone’s nose for punishment or any misc. Reason back then and the expression has since become a blanket term for, often unwise, self destructive actions motivated purely by anger or desire for revenge.)

Sir Camus then fell unconscious from Sir Galar’s “intervention” and was then dragged out by Sir Ezekiel, who waved at us.

Just like last time, Popo grabbed me and coasted forward while Griffin took the lead as they flew.

Two men plus a boy (the paladins) began chasing us as if it was a life and death situation.

For some reason, neither Popo nor Griffin seemed to care about the humans frantically scrambling after them even though the scene looked chaotic.

A loud exclamation could be heard echoing from further back as the winding downhill road came into view.

I was clinging onto Popo in an embrace while wildly sliding down the road so I didn’t have time to check if everyone had safely and properly come down the road.

As I glided around the curved slopes that stretched out into several maze-like branches, my eyes rolled round and round.

Oh, I had forgotten this feeling.

Griffin then grabbed Popo’s ear as Popo leaped through the air.

Afterwards, the sound of someone being violently buried into a mountain of jewels rang magnificently from behind.

“Are you all okay?”

There was no answer for a while.

While Griffin gently set us down, I rubbed my head that was still recovering from motion sickness and tried to come to my senses.

Where do you see… Wait, but was this place always so bright?

“·······My, my, Sir Izek and his wife boast the extraordinary talent of managing to make a dramatic appearance every time. Don’t worry, we’re all right, Princess.”

Jalak jalak. Jalakjalak jalak (sfx of Ruby sliding down the mountain)

My body painfully slipped down the mountain of jewels.

Popo, you traitor·······.

Izek, who skillfully grabbed and hugged me as I slipped further down, wore an expression on his face that was quite a spectacle to see.

Just in time, the owner of this jewelry warehouse groaned dramatically.

It was only then was I able to properly take in the surroundings.

Illuminated by a glowing lantern which seemed to have been brought in by someone, a huge pile of indigo scales could be seen draping up and down over the stone floor where a pile of jewels were pushed back.

A middle aged paladin, the knight commander of the Longinus Paladins, was smiling at me as he stood near the lifeless, drooping wings.

Was it Sir Barons?

“It’s growing pains.”

“At first, I didn’t think it was the case because it wouldn’t have matched the timing, but now I think that it is definitely growing pains after observing it with my own eyes. Even though it’s a bit of a fuss, the pain is not too severe.”

Izek gently put me down.

I fumbled through the pile of scales and found the snout where the moans were flowing out.

Which side is the head?

“Hey, are you okay?”

I thought I saw the long, closed eyelids flinching for a bit as I was speaking softly to the dragon, and then, a huge golden eyeball soon revealed itself.

My breath instantly came to a stop.

I think they want to say something, but I can’t figure out what it’s supposed to be.

When I tenderly reached out to stroke the rigid nose bridge, a huge nostril snorted out.

It’s a relief that they’re not injured or sick, but it seems a little off for them to act like this.

Are you sure you’re our dragon cub?

“But the timing doesn’t fit·······.”

“It’s really just growing pains. The only time growing pains feel like death is when it occurs while they’re young. The cub is only transitioning into adolescence now, which means they may be much younger than we initially thought for their size.”

Surprisingly, my husband, who kindly explained it to me, sat down on his knees next to me and placed his hand near the half-opened dragon’s snout.

The dragon cub didn’t even budge.

Though in the midst of their pain, their half-opened eyes gleamed as if in a blaze.

Oh, were you really just a child?

“You’re so tall. And you were still just a child?”

“A child… That is my question as well, commander?”

“Madam, the last dragon to be seen in Erendil before the cub was the frost dragon of winter 19 years ago. We thought that they were the cub’s brother, but looking at the current chain of events, it looks like the dragon last seen may have been their mother. And maybe, the reason why the mother died in vain during its capture was to hide the cub······.”

“The commander didn’t kill the dragon that was last seen though. At any rate, I don’t know what state the cub was in at that time, but it seems like they’ve been locked up in this room since then, hoarding jewels and sleeping······.”

I know. The cub was a lonely child who survived with all their might······.

But if you’re still a child, how much bigger can you grow from here? You’re already so big.

“What size do you think the mother was?”

“I remember her to maybe be half of the current size of the cub. I wouldn’t be surprised if this dim cub has an early onset of puberty or hyperplasia, but could it possibly be hyperplasia?”

“Why are you asking me that, whatever the commander says would be more accurate because he is more knowledgeable on this subject.”

“But Sir is the best paladin of the North, aren’t you?”

“Ruby, what’s your take on the situation?”

“That’s right, Princess, what do you think, Princess?”

“Why are you asking me now?”

When I asked back because I was dumbfounded, both men immediately responded with pride.

“Weren’t you just whining and pleading for mercy, saying something was wrong?”

(T/N: Ruby is talking about how it’s strange they’re asking her for input on the dragon’s condition and how they are also calmer about the situation now that they’ve realized it’s growing pains whereas before there was a bit more sense of urgency b/c the cause of the cub’s distress was unknown. They believe that Ruby would be able to have better insight b/c the cub likes her and she is able to effectively communicate w/ them and other monsters in general)

What kind of answers were these that came from the commander and the subordinate.

“When will these growing pains end?”

“No one can give an estimate on how long these growing pains will last. It varies from individual to individual, and roughly about seven out of ten fail to grow properly, eventually dying.”

Tong, there was a dreary echo.

The dragon cub, who was apparently very unhappy with the human’s claim, shook its tail, growling and dispersing the jewels everywhere.

The knight commander, who was staring at the sparkling gold coins scattered in the air as if entranced, soon saw my expression and came to his senses.

“Oh, of course, it doesn’t mean that the cub will die. It’s just that it was often the case in the past······.”

“Why are you making my wife nervous with this nonsense?”

“I didn’t mean to do that, so please forget about the unverified information discussed. Although I have experience in caring for the young, their lineage has dried up over the years, and now that I’ve had a chance to examine the cub, we don’t need to be too concerned for them. It doesn’t seem like worrying about it is necessary!”

“Why are you saying that all of a sudden?”

“Lord, can’t you see (the cub is fine)? Save yourself from any worries and just trust me, isn’t the Princess also at ease now?

For a moment, we looked at the dragon cub that was growing way too quickly and suffering from growing pains.

Chapter 116

There was no particular pain, but as I still had no energy, I fell asleep immediately when I closed my eyes. As my noble father in law said, I will have a lot of work to do after he vacates his position, so it would only be right to rest while I can. Thanks to the warm sunset that tickled my eyelids when I awoke from my nap, I could feel the presence of someone standing next to me.

Assuming that it was Izek, I didn’t check to see who it was. However, it was the presence of my beautiful sister-in-law who looked just like him, visiting me while I was alone.

Throughout my time of pretending to be a patient, Elenia would often sneak up to the door and disappear after quietly observing the family doctor or maid tending to me.

Even if she was wary of me, it couldn’t be helped, but more than that, I just felt like I wasn’t ready to face her.

I didn’t know how to prepare for it.

Elenia stopped pacing and stared at me with a stoic expression while I was looking away from her.

The sunset pouring in from the window with the curtains slightly drawn tinted our faces with a crimson dye.

“······You’ve already heard about it.”

The voice that finally rang was calm and dry like her.

The long hands exposed under the wide lace sleeves looked particularly lifeless today.

“I sent Marta to another place.”

“It’s not Ruby’s fault, so I hope you don’t misunderstand. This was something I should have done earlier… It seems that none of us knew what the people around us were really like.”

It was a stupid question to ask “Why did you do that?” Weren’t there moments when you felt like you knew what the reason was even if it wasn’t said out loud?

So Elenia, who turned her attention to the scenery outside of the window, slowly caught her breath, avoiding my eyes just staring at her.

“I don’t think I’ve tried to get close to anyone. I probably didn’t try because I didn’t care… now that I see that, I’ve found that I’m worse than my brother.”

I wondered if word had circulated that I was secretly hiding away beasts, but it seems that I was agonizing over a completely different issue.

“It sounds ridiculous to say this after the time we’ve spent together, but I believed that it would be okay for anyone to leave anytime. Like my mother…It wouldn’t matter if they suddenly left.”

“If I’ve been living like that… I can’t even imagine how Ruby has been living all this time…”

The voice, which had been carrying on quietly, dropped dangerously like the calm before the storm.

I was in the middle of it all.

“Ruby, I’m… I’m sorry, I really don’t know what to say.”

She said something incomprehensible again.

Saying she’s sorry?

I didn’t think she had anything to feel sorry for in this case…

“I like the warm, pleasant atmosphere that hasn’t been around in a long while, I like how the crazy disturbances always catch me off guard, and I envy you for always being sincere.….”

“Even though I felt unsettled and I knew something was wrong… I wanted Ruby to feel comfortable here so I didn’t try to figure out what was really going on. I didn’t want you to leave so I didn’t bring up the issue or try to acknowledge it.”

Do you really mean that…?

Even though she knew it, she closed her eyes and pretended not to know, saw what she wanted to see, turned around, and forgot about it, but it was not her fault.

She wasn’t the only one.

In a way, we were all the same pebbles of different colors.

We’ve been struggling in our own way because we didn’t want to experience anymore pain and wanted to avoid crumbling like a sandcastle in torrential rain.

I thought it would be the end if I crumbled into sand.

It would have been nice if I had realized sooner that that wasn’t the end, that it could only completely coalesce together after it crumbled into sand and that it could become even stronger and withstand more powerful forces of nature afterwards.

Then I wouldn’t have to cry like this.

I swallowed the dry saliva down my throat.

Elenia now stood silently with her head down.

Long silver hair dyed red by the sunset descended like a veil to cover her face.

When I carefully raised my arm and held Elenia’s slightly drooping hand, I felt her flinch.

Elenia, who slowly raised her head again, gazed at me with a puzzled expression.

Now, I couldn’t even get a sense of what kind of reaction would be the most appropriate and what kind of expression I should make in this situation, but it didn’t matter.

I raised the corners of my wilted mouth, smiled, and stuttered “Ellen, I want a Shepherd’s Pie.”

That northern pie that you can scoop up and eat.

Ruby-colored eyes, which had been vacant and hardened, gradually opened wide.

Oops, I didn’t expect to see this expression.

She suddenly took on a remarkably, youthful appearance.

Maybe it’s because of the sunset.

“Why don’t you join me Ellen? I think I’ll feel lonely by myself.”

Right as I gained the courage to speak up, it seemed as if a star had risen in the red sky.

The sparkling star-like iris appeared in her wide eyes while the corners of her lips twitched.

It was Elenia’s smile that I had never seen before, a small, faint, but extremely clear and beautiful smile.

“Yes. That will be fine.”

It snowed for a short time the other day after the dragon had just awoken and then sunny days uncharacteristic of the north appeared, but this time it seemed a little different.

I don’t know if the change in climate had something to do with the dragon or if this country had always been like this

Even if it’s still early winter, it’s pleasant to see so much snow piling up all night.

I turned to the escort knights who were murmuring with a look of distress, putting a finger on my lips to signal silence.

Then, clasping the brush on my shoulder, I set my feet on the snow-covered yard.

The contrast between the dark, blue sky at dawn and the all white garden created an especially elegant scenery for a stroll.

There were a series of footprints on the soft, fluffy snow.

My legs were still a bit stiff because I’ve been in bed for a long time, but it will recover soon.

Physical strength is derived from both mental strength and endurance, but it seems my body is overall lacking in many ways.

I’ll try my best to keep my body healthy from now on because there are things that I have to take responsibility for…

I was curious about what the garden in the greenhouse would look like at the moment so I started heading in the direction towards it, but suddenly, I stopped walking and instinctively squatted down.

I wonder what it would look like if a cute snowman was showing off its appearance in the front yard of the rugged landscape of the Duchy, as if it was claiming, “This is the spirit of the North!”

Good thing I came out wearing indoor gloves.

I don’t have a lot of memories of properly making a snowman, but as I packed in the snowballs tightly, the cold air started to make me sweat. I was engrossed in the moment of making this winter masterpiece.

Isn’t it my haughty husband who’s been difficult to meet with?

I spread my arms over the fairly massive snowball and smiled broadly at the monster-like guy who hurriedly walked this way.

Izek growled the whole time he was walking towards me, making it clear that he didn’t like my carefree attitude.

“What are you doing? You came out alone in the cold…”

“I came out alone because you weren’t there.”

As I started grumbling, Izek, who had taken off his fur cloak and wrapped it around my body, stopped and looked at me.

A look of embarrassment flashed in his sharp eyes.

“I was waiting for a long time to comfort you when I heard that you were on probation, why haven’t you shown your face?”

“Huh? Tell me, where did you stay overnight?”

A bit of gloomy silence passed.

Izek scratched his head with an awkward, out of character expression for a second, but as soon as he found a comeback, he brazenly scowled and made a smug proclamation.

“It’s because I don’t have any lizards I can flirt with.”

“I was also being cautious because you weren’t feeling well.”

“I’m fine now. What should I be cautious of?”

“Of course, you should·····.”

There was hesitation in his red eyes as he met my long, stern gaze.

“So,······. Oh, no, I can’t help being attracted to the dragon even if he is a beast. I don’t think I can stop myself. What should I do then?”

“I may be odd at times but I’m not that eccentric of a person.”

It‘s rare to see his face fall so heavily.

I closed my open mouth lightly.

My mouth began to tremble.

I tried to hold it in, but it was useless.

“Why? Why are you laughing?””

For a moment, while I was holding my stomach and giggling, my expressionless husband stared blankly at me and immediately cried out,

“are you laughing at me for telling you to be careful? Don’t laugh!”

“Fuhhh…······· Sometimes, when I see that amusing expression … ah ha ha ha ha!”

“Stop that. Don’t laugh! It’s all because of you!”

“Why? How is it because of me again?”

“Everytime I see you, you’ll say something weird. Are you going to remember this? I told you not to laugh!

Trying to hide the laughter, I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes and asked, but it seems that Izek decided that saying anything past this point would be his own loss.

He looked lonely after suddenly turning his back.

“Iz, what kind of things do I say?”

“Huh? I’m used to straightforward northern speech, so you have to tell me the truth for me to understand.””

There’s no answer.

Truly, as the Duke said, he is a lonely guy.