Chapter 2
(02. Why Are You Pretending Not to Know Me?)
Though it happened 199 years ago, Ashara—the White Dragon known as Ashanerbekirael—remembered it vividly.
Back then, when she was utterly at a loss and didn’t know what to do, a Black Dragon appeared before her—a truly flawless being.
They were a race created to punish the gods, but even so, the gods’ craftsmanship was astonishing. Those jet-black eyes that gazed down at her exuded an overwhelming sense of nobility.
And along with that, there was a divine aura. No—“divine” didn’t even seem sufficient to describe it. From the Black Dragon before her, she could even sense a familiar energy of godhood.
And that sparked a question.
They were made to punish the gods, so why go to such lengths to craft them so perfectly?
But the question lasted only a moment. Not long after, an overwhelming surge of emotion boiled up inside her and swept the doubt away.
So handsome!
Was it love at first sight? Or was it something like an imprinting effect—similar to how some bird species instinctively follow the first being they see after hatching? She didn’t know.
That was just what came to mind.
Was there something wrong with her eyes? Why did it look like there was a halo around him? And those exquisite black scales, those eyes as dark as night that seemed to pierce right through her—
I want to keep looking. For a very, very long time.
“Please wait here.”
The maid, Maria—who had been watching her with sparkling eyes—closed the parlor door and left.
Ashanerbekirael—or rather, Shanelica in her human form—looked around the room at the maid’s words.
The mansion, black on the outside like its owner’s true form, had an interior that was surprisingly ordinary. Clean beige-toned walls adorned with elegant carvings. Not overly lavish, but tasteful enough to receive guests comfortably.
After glancing around, Shanelica walked toward the window. The sun was still high in the sky. The owner wouldn’t return until evening, so she’d have to wait quite a while.
Did I come too early? I should’ve wandered outside a bit first.
Her first goal in coming to the human world was to meet her mate—him. But perhaps she had rushed too much. After all, this was her first outing in 199 years, and she had come straight to her destination.
The Dragons’ Game.
Dragons mostly live on Spicher Island, a volcanic island far to the south of the continent of Hures where other creatures reside. Long ago, they lived among other races on the continent, but not anymore. This was partly because of restrictions imposed by the gods, but honestly, dragons were perfectly content living in the environment best suited to them on Spicher Island.
But sometimes, dragons conceal their true form and go to the continent to play. This is called The Dragons’ Game.
For beings with lifespans averaging over ten thousand years, going out into the world and experiencing other races’ lifestyles was tremendously fascinating. So dragons are allowed to engage in these excursions as long as they remain undiscovered. They use polymorph magic to transform into the form of another race and blend in among them.
If they cause trouble or create incidents on the continent, they face extremely harsh punishment under dragon society’s rules. So usually, these games are enjoyed quietly. And since they are only brief diversions in the scope of a dragon’s long life, no one interferes unless the rules are broken.
Most dragons venture out at least once in their lifetime, but not often. Dragons are curious, yes, but they are also inherently lazy and fond of leisure, and they tire of things easily. So many abandon the game midway and return home to fall into a deep slumber.
That’s why the fact that Ashara’s mate—the Dragon Lord—had been playing this game for 199 years was highly unusual. In a human world where lifespans barely reach 100 years, he had stayed far beyond that.
No, coming straight here was the right choice. Who knows where he’d have vanished to if I were late?
As Shanelica was busy justifying herself, something shiny caught her eye.
A mirror?
She walked closer and saw her reflection. Yes, a mirror.
Perfect timing. After being placed under the polymorph spell that transformed dragons into another race, she had immediately teleported off Spicher Island, barely listening to the precautions for venturing into the human world.
So she had yet to see what her human form looked like. But now, with a mirror in front of her, she could finally check.
Heart pounding, Shanelica stood before the full-length mirror—and her eyes went wide.
“Whoa.”
She hadn’t expected much, since it wasn’t even her own spell. She didn’t care if her form was plain—her goal wasn’t some glamorous game, but to leave Spicher Island and meet her mate.
But she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the mirror. She touched her left cheek, then her right, then her chin, tilting her head this way and that.
“Pretty!”
From every angle, the face looking back at her was beautiful. Absolutely satisfying.
She looked about the age of a late teenager, with iridescent mint-green eyes, big round eyelids with double folds giving a sweet and charming impression. A small, delicate nose and soft, thin lips rested perfectly on a snow-white face—so lovely it almost hurt to look at.
Of course! Even if I’m a dragon, my soul is divine. This much should be standard!
Dragons were a race created to punish the gods, but it seemed the gods had at least retained some aesthetic sense. Now she understood why Chel—the friend who had cast the polymorph spell—had dropped her jaw, hugged her while squealing “You’re too cute!”, and whined about wanting to come along.
The most striking feature, though, was her long hair—a shimmering pale pink.
When she first saw it after transforming, it had been pure white—matching her dragon scales.
“That’s because you’re a White Dragon. The color of your scales becomes your hair color. Hmm… but that’s a problem. Pure white hair on someone so young will draw attention anywhere.”
Chel, unable to change her body structure, had at least altered her hair color with a small spell. So now her hair was tinted with soft pink—still very pale because of the strong base color, but far better than stark white.
Shanelica thought the color suited her perfectly. The blend of ivory skin and rosy hair was exquisite, especially paired with the sky-blue dress Chel had prepared.
Her mood soared. She had already been thrilled to leave Spicher Island, but this was the cherry on top. Who wouldn’t enjoy being pretty?
Knock, knock.
Just as Shanelica was lost in admiration, a knock came at the door. She turned her gaze from the mirror to the beige door as it opened with a soft click.
“……”
Her jaw nearly dropped when the man walked in.
“I heard you came to see me,” he said, voice crisp and formal.
A handsome man with black hair and black eyes.
That was how Shanelica defined him. He was so tall it felt like two more heads would barely reach his, with shoulders broad enough to match.
This is cheating. Even with polymorph magic, this level of good looks is unfair!
He had a face you couldn’t look away from, his hair and eyes perfectly matching in pitch-black—drawing her in like a vortex of darkness. Staring too long almost made her dizzy.
And his outfit—dark armor that shimmered faintly over silver—only accentuated his striking appearance.
Shanelica took a sharp breath.
“My lady?”
Ah.
Only then did she realize he had been calling her while she stood there mute.
You thought he looked amazing as a dragon, and now even his human form seems perfect?!
She shook her head vigorously.
Focus. Her heart fluttered with the same thrill she’d felt 199 years ago, but she forced herself to ignore it. It’s fake, just imprinting. That’s all.
“You look pale, my lady,” he said.
“Huh?”
“Your face is flushed. Are you unwell?”
That made her cheeks burn even hotter.
Idiot! Getting flustered twice in one day—what are you doing?! Wait… huh?
She tilted her head down, then peered up at him suspiciously—until something clicked.
Black hair. Black eyes.
“Haa…”
A breath like a sigh escaped her lips.
Are you insane?! You’re practically screaming, ‘I’m the one and only Black Dragon—the Dragon Lord!’
Chel had explained it clearly: When dragons go to the continent—especially to human lands—they never use their scale color in their transformed appearance.
Usually, dragons preferred high status and eye-catching looks during their games, paired with exceptional abilities. They wanted to enjoy themselves more than anyone else, which made sense.
But that also increased the risk of being exposed. Most humans wouldn’t notice, but some rare individuals—or other races like elves—might. And if a dragon was discovered, it was a huge problem. The game had to stay secret and quiet by rule.
So showing your scale color in your human form? Absolutely unacceptable.
Yet here he stood—a man who might as well have a sign saying, ‘Yes, I’m the Dragon Lord!’ from head to toe.
“My lady?”
Lost in shock, Shanelica blinked her long lashes at his deepening voice.
Even his voice is amazing.
Rich and low, vibrating through her chest like music.
“I… I’m fine,” she stammered.
“That’s a relief. So, what brings you here?”
Only then did she snap out of her thoughts and realize the real issue.
“What brings me…?”
More shocking than his black hair and eyes was the truth sinking in:
Why… why are you pretending you don’t know me?
