Chapter 21
It was a dragon.
The same black dragon that Hasollan had seen many times, and though she was tired of it, she still couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed and awed every time. The dragon was enormous—so massive that it could easily cover the entire front sea of Roetingen. Its burning golden eyes could pierce through the black ocean and the darkness. Its sharp claws were like giant swords, and its terrifying body could crush castles and burn down cities.
“Ahhhhhh!”
As soon as the dragon reached the sea near the city, it wrapped its long tail around a pirate ship from Soruk and flipped it over. The ship was tossed like a toy by a huge whip-like tail. Tyrell McQueen, who was on the ship, transformed into a giant tiger as he fell into the sea. But he was only 350 years old—a child compared to the black dragon, who had lived for over 4,000 years. They weren’t even close in size or power. Akelans, the black dragon, didn’t even bother to look at him.
“W-What? Why us?!”
The captain of the ship Hasollan was panicking as the black dragon slowly coiled around their boat. “We didn’t do anything wrong! We even have a permit!” But this wasn’t the kind of situation where words mattered. The dragon lifted its head and looked down at the ship. Just meeting its eyes filled the crew with unspeakable fear and awe.
Hasollan.
She heard the dragon’s voice clearly, but no one else did. Solan curled in on herself, trembling. The dragon was angry. Because of her. Of course, she was scared—she was still human. But she had faced this kind of thing before, even died once, so at least she didn’t run away immediately. She held on.
— Come out.
The deep, echoing voice commanded her.
No.
She tightly shut her eyes. Cracks started to spread through the ship.
— If you don’t come out, I’ll destroy the ship and drag you out myself.
Fine, go ahead. She had died many ways before, but not by drowning. That might be interesting. Hasollan opened her eyes wide and bit her lip. Even though her hands were shaking and her teeth were chattering from fear, she stayed seated. Standing up to an angry dragon—she wasn’t in her right mind.
CRAAACK. The ship creaked loudly and swayed violently.
“Mercy! What did we ever do to deserve this?!”
The sailors were rolling on the deck, begging for their lives.
— So, you’re going to resist, huh?
— What did that guy promise you?
Hasollan paused, then looked up. That guy?
— A better life?
The ship shook harder. Solan lost her balance and rolled on the floor.
— Freedom?
Even if both sides tried to hold on, the balance of power would eventually break. The one who’s desperate always loses.
— Or…
Akelans gritted his fangs and finally roared out his fury.
— Did he promise you a queen’s crown?
Hasollan had no idea what he was talking about. Akelans couldn’t take it anymore. The tiger watching from the overturned ship, Solan silently lying on the floor, everything made him boil over. The dragon landed on the deck—but no one saw it happen. All they caught was the sight of a woman being dragged away, someone who had been hiding in the lower deck.
She tried to run again.
Akelans carried her on his shoulder and narrowed his eyes, seeing no trace of the tiger. His blood boiled. But first, he had to lock this woman up. He flew across the night sky back to the Roetingen Castle with her in his grasp.
That night, all of Roetingen was in chaos. Everyone saw the massive black dragon in the sea, then flying over the city, finally disappearing above the castle. While the city was held in awe, Hasollan was dragged deep into the castle. Coins clinked and scattered as Akelans tossed away her belongings.
“Where were you planning to go?”
From the sea to the castle in seconds—everything happened so fast, Solan couldn’t think straight. And his anger was aimed at her. Any normal person would have fainted by now.
“You were going to leave me! Where were you going?!”
So that’s why he was mad. Solan’s sharp mind kept working, even while her body trembled with fear. And strangely, part of her wanted to laugh.
“What does it matter?!”
She shouted back.
“I can go where I want!”
Akelans grabbed both of her arms roughly.
“You’re my mate. Not even death will let you escape!”
Thunder rumbled in the sky. Black storm clouds gathered in response to his rage.
“No! You said I wasn’t! YOU said that!”
His golden eyes blazed like fire, the black slit pupils staring her down. They were right back to the beginning. Akelans claimed she was his mate; Solan kept denying it.
Should I just break her?
He grabbed her ankle. It would be so easy to snap it. Solan fought back, but she was no match. The power of a mate did not affect a dragon like him.
If I break her and chain her here, maybe she’ll stop trying to run.
“Let go…!”
Solan struggled to pull away.
Again… just like when I grabbed her throat.
He could feel her heartbeat, her fragile breathing, her thin frame. If he broke it… oddly, he started to worry.
It’ll hurt her.
He sighed and lowered his head. The despair, jealousy, and rage still hadn’t cooled. He rarely got angry—but when he did, he could destroy a country. Yet Solan made him angry so easily, and at the same time, made him unable to act.
Why am I hesitating just because I don’t want to hurt her?
“Try running again.”
He pulled her closer.
“If you want, go ahead.”
He had bled for her for years and traveled back in time. But for Solan, only a month had passed since he “abandoned” her.
“Run, leave me, find someone else. Keep doing it.”
He growled, staring into her eyes.
“Each time, I’ll make sure you remember who you are.”
Before she could stop him, he grabbed her wrist and kissed it. Hasollan watched in shock as he bit down, hard, leaving a deep red mark. She flinched in pain—and a black dragon tattoo appeared along the bite and slowly sank into her skin.
“I’m only holding back from killing that bratty yellow dragon and arrogant tiger because of you. Nothing more, nothing less.”
He grabbed her chin and pulled her even closer. So close their breaths mixed, their body heat shared.
“You said no, so I’m holding back. But I could take the throne tonight and make you my empress. Is that what you want?”
He wished—desperately—that she would say yes. That she would throw a tantrum, demand the crown, and show her ambition without shame.
“You just want to be the most capable emperor.”
Even now, with the dragon’s rage in her face, Solan shouted back. She wanted to hurt him. If she had a knife, she’d stab him. Just like how she had been injured.
“I’m just the best tool for the job. That’s why you want me, isn’t it?”
Akelans had never said that—but she twisted everything and denied it anyway. Her sharp, challenging gaze only made him angrier. He stared at her, then gave a cold smile. Solan shivered.
“Solan.”
His voice was so sweet. Her hands, still gripping his arm, began to shake. She didn’t even realize it.
“There are plenty of advisors. I don’t need you. You think I couldn’t conquer this empire alone?”
He said it easily. And it was true. He could crush the current yellow emperor, Usman, like nothing. Snap his neck, take the throne.
“Then why now…”
Even though she knew how terrifyingly strong he was, Solan forced out the words.
“…Did you just want someone to warm your bed?”
That made him even angrier. She could feel it.
“You understand everything but keep pretending not to. Is that your new hobby?”
When someone couldn’t understand, he got rid of them. But when they pretended not to understand, he killed them. That was how Emperor Akelans ruled. Everyone knew it. It was a strict rule in his court.
“And that’s what I hate the most.”
Solan, of all people, knew that. Yet she kept denying it, on purpose, trying to provoke him. His brow twitched. Solan sucked in a sharp breath.
But instead of breaking her neck, he bit her neck and left another dragon mark.
“Ah…!”
She whimpered. The black dragon shape appeared again on her soft skin, then faded.
“Try denying it now, with my mark on you.”
He whispered in her ear, a smile spreading across his face.
“I’ll give you a new one each time. Deeper and deeper.”
With that, Akelans stood and walked out of the room.
“Don’t let her take a single step out of this room.”
“Y-Yes, Your Majesty!”
The voices of startled maids and knights echoed behind him as the door shut. Only then did Hasollan realize—this was his bedroom.
That night, while the black dragon loomed over the sea, a black horse galloped away from the castle with a single rider.
Solan, locked inside the duke’s room beneath the castle, realized Akelans had shown her mercy once again.
“You should wash up and get some rest, my lady,”
a maid begged softly.
If Solan wanted to, she could overpower the guards and escape. But if she did… Akelans would probably kill them all. He hadn’t said a word, but she could feel it. The maid, pale with fear from witnessing the dragon’s wrath, dragged Solan toward the bath.
“Are you alright?”
She looked unharmed and dressed well. But the dragon’s rage wasn’t something a human could endure. Some sailors had fainted in their piss. And Solan had been at the center of it.
Solan just closed her eyes and nodded.
“Sleep well, my lady.”
“…Where’s His Majesty?”
“Well… he took a spear, got on a horse, and rode out through the north gate. All the guards followed him…”
Oh no. Solan shut her eyes tightly.
By morning, Akelans still hadn’t returned.
“His Majesty went north by himself… He mustn’t cross the border!”
The knights were nervous. Fear spread quickly. Solan knew she shouldn’t worry—but she did anyway. That was her habit. Her duty as Solaris Duke’s heir. No one else ever worried about Akelans, but Solan Odear always had. That hadn’t changed.
If too many enemies gang up on him, he might still get hurt…
