Chapter 14
Looking back, Hasollan’s deep, one-sided love for Akelans had become almost like a chronic habit.
Over time, she grew tired of loving him, frustrated that despite all her sacrifices, he never acknowledged her or even looked her way.
Eventually, she got angry and demanded to be treated fairly—after all, she was his partner.
At some point, she gave up on the dream of doing things together out of love and let that dream die. It was understandable—he had never returned her feelings.
“I love you.”
Akelans said it, but it looked like it hurt him. He knew Hasollan would hate to hear it, and that made it even harder to say.
“I couldn’t stand it anymore, so I came back to find you.”
He saw no one but her.
“I’ll do anything you want—just please, stay with me.”
He didn’t care if the empire fell, or if he died coughing blood. But the thought of Hasollan dying, unloved and ignored, was unbearable. He couldn’t let that be the end, so he turned back time.
“I don’t understand.”
Hasollan stubbornly replied, clearly exhausted.
“I don’t even want to understand.”
“Solaris.”
“Don’t call me that!”
Don’t use that sweet tone on her again—the way he used to make her heart flutter even when nothing had changed.
“All I want is for you to have nothing to do with me.”
But of course, he wouldn’t listen. Hasollan didn’t know what he expected from her, so she just glared and shut her mouth tightly. Desire? Do dragons even feel desire? She couldn’t tell—and didn’t want to—so she looked away.
“Dragons are supposed to be wise, right? Then why did Duke Roetingen swear loyalty to the Emperor before he could be crowned?”
“Kind of makes it seem like the Emperor can’t be crowned without him.”
“Seems like that might be true. Every time His Majesty says something, Duke Roetingen shuts him down.”
The knights escorting Akelans from the capital whispered among themselves.
“Didn’t expect the coronation to feel so tense.”
“Yeah, it was intense.”
“You think this is a joke? Don’t you feel uneasy?”
“What can we do, even if we are?”
Another knight responded calmly, as if it were no big deal.
“Humans can’t interfere in what dragons do.”
Even if it led to civil war—dragons chose their own paths.
“…But the mate—surely we can stop that, right?”
The knights thought about the woman Akelans insisted on bringing along. Could she really be his mate? It seemed obvious—he never left her side. The new Emperor had no mate. Duke Roetingen did. An Emperor needs a mate. So maybe the Emperor had to be replaced. Which meant war. The knights didn’t want to think about it anymore.
Roetingen was in no shape for war. It was constantly under attack by raiders from neighboring tribes, and although strategically important, it was exhausting to defend. Merchants cursed at having to pass through the area but had no choice unless they wanted a 50-day detour.
‘The city walls need repairs, and the port too.’
Hasollan looked over the city from the castle on high ground and tried to stop herself from planning. Old habits as an administrator died hard. Her brain still wanted to fix things, make plans, and organize.
“Where are you going?”
Since becoming Duke of Roetingen, Akelans watched her like a hawk whenever she left the castle. She wanted to slap that annoyingly handsome face.
“That’s none of your business.”
“Pick one—formal speech or casual.”
“I’ll talk however I want.”
Every conversation with him shocked her. Sometimes it made her heart sink. She was talking back to a dragon—using informal speech, even being rude. She crossed lines she once thought were forbidden, and it scared her. So she pushed herself to be bolder.
‘I’ve already died more than once—what is there to fear now?’
She braced herself again.
“Fine. Do as you please.”
Akelans shrugged in a way she had never seen before. He, the powerful dragon who always looked down from above, looked out over the city with her.
“Looks like there’s a lot of work to be done, huh?”
“You must be busy, then.”
He looked at her, realizing she was drawing a clear line—“This is your problem, not mine.”
“Would you consider doing it yourself?”
He asked carefully, but she only glared back.
“I’m not forcing you.”
He just remembered she was good at this kind of thing. Maybe even enjoyed it.
“Don’t even think about using me to get back on the throne or to block Usman.”
Her eyes were fierce.
“I’m not. I never intended to.”
“You did once. But not anymore. Let’s just pretend we don’t know each other. Otherwise, I don’t care if I die again.”
Akelans rubbed his face.
“I thought you were only good at saying things that made me happy. But turns out, you’re good at hurting me, too.”
“I gave my life just to make you happy, remember?”
“Why haven’t you eaten?”
“Because it’s the only thing I can control right now.”
She couldn’t leave the castle alone, couldn’t leave him—so she protested by skipping meals.
“Eat. I don’t want to force you.”
“Then let me go. I’ll eat if you let me leave, find work, and live my life.”
She still wasn’t used to speaking harshly, but she forced herself. Her heart was pounding.
“You’re amazing. You’re actually trying to negotiate with me.”
Yes—she dared to negotiate with Akelans.
“I’m not mocking you. Just impressed.”
“Because I was just a pawn, right? And now I have the nerve to negotiate?”
Akelans had no reply. Nothing he said would come out right.
“Solan.” (The name she goes by after reincarnation. In her new life, she initially doesn’t remember her past as Solaris).
“Let me go.”
She was firm.
“Okay.”
He answered easily. But she had a feeling she knew what was coming next.
“Let me come with you.”
Of course.
Walking through Roetingen with Akelans was exhausting. He stood out too much—tall, broad, and otherworldly. Even without an entourage, people stared.
“Excuse me, I saw a help-wanted sign here earlier?”
Hasollan smiled and pretended Akelans wasn’t behind her. This was her seventh time walking into a shop.
“Yes, we’re hiring.”
Please let this be the one. She smiled brightly, leaving Akelans and his gloomy stare behind.
“You want the job? Got any experience?”
“Not in sales, but I’ve worked in management.”
“Can you handle accounting?”
The shop owner—a tall, thin woman—hesitated when she saw Akelans. Well, he was unnaturally good-looking.
“Oh, don’t mind him.”
It felt like she was cheerfully saying, “Don’t mind the Black Dragon Emperor back there!”
“He’s just…”
“He’s just the guy who drops me off and picks me up.”
Akelans finished for her.
“Your boyfriend? Can you read ledgers?”
“He’s not my boyfriend. And yes, I can!”
She needed the job more than anything, so she answered firmly.
“I can organize, do math, handle bank stuff, fill orders, and go to the government office. I’ve done all of that—though just as a low-level worker.”
She handed over a resume she hadn’t really shown anyone properly. The owner skimmed it, then tucked it away.
“Start tomorrow morning.”
“Really? Thank you!”
She had landed a job—with Akelans in tow! Hasollan’s face lit up. Akelans stared at her, stunned—it had been so long since she smiled like that.
“This neighborhood’s dangerous. Be careful.”
The shop owner glanced at Akelans again, oddly relieved. Hasollan didn’t notice—she was too happy.
“Can’t you work with me instead?”
Stay with me. I’ll give you whatever you want. Akelans asked again.
She only gave him a cold look. He bit his tongue. It drove him crazy that someone fit to be an empress was selling fabric—but she was smiling. So he endured.
‘I don’t get what’s so exciting about working in a fabric shop…’
But it didn’t matter—Hasollan was smiling. That was enough. Akelans held in a sigh and gently pulled her aside.
“Watch for carriages.”
Hasollan looked up quickly. What a ridiculous moment—walking the streets with the Duke of Roetingen trailing behind.
“…What’s going on?”
She was fine with him following if it meant she could leave the castle—but something felt off. The city was unusually quiet. People were staring at something with discomfort.
Then she locked eyes with someone.
“You came here?”
A rough voice in the Lupel Empire’s tongue spoke nearby. It was Tyrell McQueen, a prince of the invading Soruk tribe.
“I didn’t expect to meet you here, but I’m glad you left.”
He had been in the capital for the coronation but was now heading back north. His eyes turned to the man behind Hasollan.
“I never imagined I’d run into the Duke of Roetingen here.”
The towering warrior leapt from his horse and faced an even larger dragon.
“You really gave the new Emperor a hard time at the coronation. It was something to see.”
His casual arrogance made Hasollan’s head snap toward Akelans.
‘What happened at the coronation?’
She didn’t want attention, but Tyrell’s entourage was enormous.
‘What did he do?’
She glanced at Akelans.
“If that was just art, doing any more would have been dangerous.”
Despite having no guards, Akelans stood tall, unbothered, and returned Tyrell’s gaze. He was born and raised an Emperor—and it showed.
“Heading back to Sorok?”
Akelans narrowed his golden eyes at the bold, rugged man.
“His Majesty of Lupel suggested this route—much appreciated.”
“I heard you’d be arriving today.”
He had known, but clearly hadn’t prepared much. Hasollan slowly backed away, trying to slip out of sight.
“But how did you end up here, Miss Odeir?”
Tyrell didn’t let her go.
“It’s fate that we meet again. Good to see you.”
Hasollan hesitated, then answered:
“Yes, good to see you too. Thank you for your generous offer last time.”
Akelans’s jaw twitched slightly.
