Chapter 31
Dahlia turned her head sharply away from Khalid, putting on a deliberately aloof face as he sat there looking utterly stunned.
“So, are you not going to answer me?”
She tried to sound casual, but as Khalid stayed silent, refusing to give her a clear answer, fear began to creep up inside her.
He looked flustered, his face red with disbelief—but he didn’t look nearly as happy as she had imagined he would. She had thought she was certain of his feelings for her, but maybe she’d been wrong?
Was this proposal just her own foolish assumption? The thought confused her. But no matter how she looked at it, Khalid’s recent behavior had been unmistakably that of a lover—or even a husband.
Compared to her previous husband, Sirei, before her regression, Khalid had been far more devoted to her—so much so that it almost felt unfair to compare the two. He showered her with affection as naturally as breathing.
“…Thank you.”
“Can I take that as a yes?”
“……”
His silence made her anxiety swell like popcorn in a hot pan. Then, as he finally lowered his head, the hands they had been holding in the air quietly slipped apart.
“…Khalid.”
Instead of letting her sinking heart show, Dahlia cupped his face in both hands, forcing him to look up at her.
“Look me in the eyes. Is it because I’m human? Because I’ll grow old and die before you do?”
“No.”
“Then is it my secret? The clock I have—the one connected to time. You probably know something about it, don’t you? If that’s what’s bothering you, I can explain it.”
“That’s not it. You don’t have to explain.”
There was a faint shimmer in Khalid’s eyes as he shook his head.
“Then there must be some reason.”
“……”
“What is it? What’s making you hesitate like this?”
Had she misunderstood his kindness all along? Dahlia asked softly, her voice trembling.
“Do you… not like me? Do you not see me as someone you could marry?”
“No. Never.”
His voice rose in shock, then sank low again.
“Dahlia. It’s not because of you. It’s because of me. I’m… the problem.”
Seeing his face crumble as he muttered those words, her heart ached painfully.
Then what on earth is the problem?
Dahlia closed her eyes briefly, then let him go and said firmly,
“Then fix it. If it’s something you can’t tell me, that’s fine. Just… deal with it.”
“Dahlia…”
“You can, can’t you?”
“……”
“You’re a great dragon. You can do it.”
He hadn’t toyed with her—she was sure of that. There had to be some problem she didn’t yet know about.
Watching the light of resolve gradually replace the sorrow in Khalid’s tear-brimmed eyes, Dahlia realized her guess had been right.
“Thank you.”
“But don’t make me wait too long.”
“…Okay.”
Khalid gently took her hand, brushing his lips against the back of it before letting go. For now, she decided that would be enough.
Though she had acted composed and dignified, all her strength drained away the moment she returned to her room.
As soon as she closed the door, she slumped down against it, kicked off her shoes onto the carpet, and muttered,
“At least I managed to keep my cool.”
Pretending to be fine no matter how much she was hurting—Dahlia had always been good at that.
Maybe I should thank my cruel ex-husband for training me so well.
She’d promised herself that in this new life, she would be honest with her emotions—but that didn’t mean she’d let herself crumble because of someone else’s feelings.
As she removed her jewelry and undressed layer by layer, she let out a hollow little laugh. It sounded empty and airless, but at least it wasn’t tears.
“……”
Ugh, I can’t sleep at all!
She’d been sure she’d fall asleep in a good mood tonight, but after tossing and turning all night, Dahlia sat up with a start when she heard birds chirping outside her brightening window.
Her blanket rustled and flopped over with the motion.
“Khalid must be up already. He’s old enough that he doesn’t sleep in, right?”
She’d never gone to him this early before, but today, she felt like she wouldn’t be able to breathe until she saw him smile.
After getting ready in a rush, she went straight to his room.
“…What the?”
“Good morning, Lady Dahlia.”
Aaron greeted her politely as she stopped short, staring blankly.
“Aaron! Where’s Khalid?”
“What happened yesterday?”
“……”
“……”
They spoke over each other, then glared in mild annoyance. The bed was empty—its owner already gone.
“Seriously…”
Even the sheets and pillows were neatly arranged, as if no one had slept there.
He didn’t seriously run away after being proposed to, did he?
The thought struck her unbidden, but she quickly brushed it off.
“…You really don’t know where he went?”
“I have a hunch.”
“What is it? What kind of proposal did you make that he’d disappear without a word?”
Aaron asked wryly. Dahlia hesitated, recalling their talk from the night before, though he hadn’t told her exactly what he planned.
“I think… he went to solve whatever’s keeping him from marrying me.”
“What? Then…”
“It seemed like it had to do with the royal family. Khalid’s tied to the crown somehow, so the reason’s probably in the capital.”
At her words, Aaron rubbed his temples as if remembering something unpleasant.
“…Your deduction is probably correct. Shall I follow him? I’ll prepare right away.”
He was already ready to pack, but Dahlia shook her head.
“No. It’s fine. He’ll come back. Do as you like.”
“Then I’ll go. You and Roy will be fine here together, I assume.”
It wasn’t Aaron who was jealous of Roy and Dahlia—it was Khalid. And since his master had already been proposed to, Aaron figured there was nothing left to worry about.
Feeling oddly refreshed after reaching that conclusion, he smiled lightly and bowed.
“Alright. Leave things here to me and Roy, and take care.”
“Roy!”
Aaron called out loudly, and moments later, the sound of running feet approached. Roy poked his head in through the doorway.
“You called?”
“Yeah. The master and I are going to the capital. Stay here and look after Lady Dahlia.”
“Huh? Dahlia? Lady Dahlia?”
At Roy’s confused question, Aaron repeated sternly,
“Call her Lady Dahlia. Say it—Lady Dahlia. And treat her with proper respect.”
The sudden formality made Dahlia feel awkward. Ever since she’d prepared that proposal, Aaron had seemed noticeably more deferential toward her—it wasn’t just her imagination.
“It’s fine, Aaron. Really. You too, Roy, don’t worry about it.”
She waved a hand dismissively, trying to ease the tension. But sensing something was up, Roy quickly changed his tone.
“Got it. Lady Dahlia, since those two boring guys are gone, let’s have some fun, yeah?”
Not quite the respectful behavior Aaron wanted—but close enough. He let it slide and looked back at Dahlia.
“It shouldn’t take long. The master’s likely already there, handling things. The capital isn’t far.”
“Alright. I won’t worry.”
“…Still, if it takes longer than expected, I’ll send word.”
“Okay.”
“Safe travels!”
As Dahlia and Roy waved him off, Aaron departed—and just as he’d guessed, Khalid was already standing before the grand, gleaming walls of the royal palace.
“What brings you here?”
One of the palace guards approached.
From Khalid’s refined appearance, the man seemed to assume he was a noble of some sort, so his tone wasn’t hostile.
“I’m here to see the king.”
“…What did you say?”
The guard’s polite expression froze, then turned incredulous, as if looking at a lunatic.
Khalid, however, simply repeated himself, calm as ever.
The guard, baffled, decided to stick to protocol.
“You mean… an audience with His Majesty? Do you have an appointment?”
At least he was still being civil.
“No. But he’ll know who I am when you tell him.”
The way Khalid spoke so casually about meeting the king made it sound absurd. The guard’s patience, already stretched thin, finally snapped.
“Are you looking to be arrested for lèse-majesté? You look like a noble, so maybe you’re just spoiled or crazy—but watch yourself.”
The guard reached out roughly to grab him, but before he could touch Khalid, he froze, snapping to attention.
Khalid, who’d been about to wave him off, turned toward the direction the guard was staring at.
A royal carriage—bearing the crest reserved for the direct royal bloodline—was approaching along the boulevard.
All the guards saluted in unison as the palace gates swung open. The carriage rolled forward, then came to a stop directly in front of Khalid.
“What’s going on here?”
From the window appeared the faces of the Crown Prince—and Sirei.
They were the two men most deeply entangled with Dahlia in her final moments before death.
If Dahlia had been here, she would have lost her composure completely. But Khalid, unaware of it all, simply stood there.
