Chapter 94
For some reason, that put her heart at ease, and Siren smiled again.
Even brighter than before.
“You’re smiling a lot more now.”
“It hurts.”
“You’re even talking back properly. No stammering, either. You’ve changed quite a bit.”
Watching her, Yasamin reached out and pinched her cheek.
Her cheeks, well-fed as they were, had become all the more pinchable by the day.
This too was his doing, and he found it quite satisfying.
Gaining weight was proof that her body and mind were at ease in his embrace, was it not?
“It’s a good change.”
He had never realized before how fulfilling it could be to nurture someone.
Then again, perhaps it was because the first person he ever cared for like this was Siren Wilkeron.
When he had first seen her, her sense of self had been utterly shattered. Her insides torn, slashed apart beyond recognition, she had been nothing more than a pitiful little pup, sniffling as she sobbed.
“Suddenly…?”
“Yeah. Because you’ve done well.”
Yasamin stroked Siren’s head. She rolled her eyes but stayed still for a moment before abruptly dropping a remark that sent his blood pressure soaring.
“Hearing praise from someone about a thousand years old… it feels quite nice.”
“…Hey, you brought up my age on purpose, didn’t you?”
“I merely stated a fact.”
“Backtalk.”
Perhaps he had spoiled her too much—but oh well. That was inevitable. When a home was comfortable, one was bound to sprawl about without a care.
The problem is… ever since I revealed to Siren that I’ve actually lived for a thousand years, it’s becoming harder and harder to maintain my persona.
Persona.
To Yasamin, that was an incredibly important element.
If one read imported fairy tales, they would come across the existence of dragons. These beings used a magic called Polymorph to masquerade as humans, indulging in the world’s amusements while disguising both their personalities and appearances to be nothing like their true selves.
A dragon, by nature, was arrogant. Sometimes even haughty, with the immense magical power to back up such pride.
But when they Polymorphed, they would play the role of a kindly old woman, a timid young man, or a righteous hero.
They would wander the human world in accordance with such personas.
No matter how conceited they were by nature, the moment they took on the role of a timid young man, they had to adhere to it completely.
Unable to voice their opinions anywhere, stammering in speech, avoiding eye contact—maintaining the act at all times.
Yasamin had come across such ideas through reading, and he had applied them to his own life as well.
He would act in accordance with his persona. He would not reveal his true self.
Though he could not change his eye color, he would dye his hair in hundred-year cycles.
Up until he met Siren, he had followed these rules rather well.
Maybe… It’s because the more I understand and accept Siren, the more I feel she will do the same for me.
That was the feeling he had.
That no matter what he said, she would take it in stride.
That having endured great pain herself, she would empathize with him.
Hadn’t she, after all, told him this on the day she first encountered the infected?
“You have always endured a life like this…”
At the time, he had merely thought it ridiculous and dismissed it. But why was it that her words resurfaced in his mind time and again?
Perhaps that single sentence was what had led him to this point.
Back when she had known nothing about him. When she hadn’t even been able to approach the truth of who he was.
In a moment when she should have been preoccupied with her own fate… she had spoken those words of understanding.
That small phrase had lingered, bitter and unshakable.
It had made him scoff, because it was something Aquafuran would never say. It left a sour taste in his mouth. So he drank. And as he drank, he thought of Siren.
He wished for Siren and Aquafuran to remain separate beings.
In the end, wasn’t making it rain just a matter of using Raksha?
It wouldn’t be enough to bring prosperity to the South, but it would be sufficient.
That should be enough, shouldn’t it?
If you won’t kill, then surrender your body to me.
A feral force roiled in his gut, growling and seething at his weakness.
There were times when, watching Siren asleep in his arms, he wanted to strangle her. And at the same time, he wanted to kiss her.
She was dear to him. Adorable. And he wanted to kill her.
So he had to keep her close.
To make sure she never went anywhere. To keep her by his side, always.
“Do you have time tonight?”
Posing a question when he already knew the answer, he discreetly gave Siren’s hip a squeeze before letting go.
The glare she shot him was endearing.
As was the fleeting, unhidden anticipation in her gaze.
For the first time, he found himself looking forward to the night.
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